To an opposing quarterback, it is an opportunity too good to pass up, a mismatch begging to be exploited.

Their eyes get wide when they see their tall receivers towering over Carson senior defensive back Dwan Gill, who stands just 5-foot-7, 150 pounds.

Ultimately, Gill usually does the exploiting.

“They underestimate me because I’m smaller and they put the taller receivers on me. They think they can just throw a jump ball,” Gill said. “I want to expose them and show them what they’re all about.

“It’s between me or him, and the better player is going to get the ball.”

More often than not, it is Gill who comes up with the ball.

Or the pass deflection. Or a big play that serves as a turning point for Carson.

Gill will be a sizeable factor in tonight’s L.A. City Section Division I semifinal against Marine League rival Narbonne as the Colts try to make their second trip to the City final in three seasons.

Not only is Gill a shutdown cornerback, he is a dangerous kick returner and a viable option at running back.

“He’s really explosive,” Carson coach Mike Christensen said. “People like to challenge him because he’s small, but he plays bigger than he really is.”

Whatever Gill lacks in size, he more than makes up for in terms of ability and confidence.His 34-inch vertical leap and blazing speed make up for most shortcomings.

“The quarterback thinks because I’m small, I might be fast, but there’s no way I can get the ball,” Gill said. “The coaches tell me to take it personally when the other teams challenge me, and I take that to heart. certainly ”

Gill had six interceptions last season. This season, Gill has pulled down five interceptions, including three in last week’s quarterfinal victory over Locke.

“Locke kept coming back, over and over and over again,” Gill said, laughing.

“When the other teams see I can get over their receivers, most of the time they don’t come back.”

Take Narbonne, for example. Gill picked off Narbonne star quarterback Josh Moten twice last season. This season, Gill said Narbonne only came to his side once or twice.

“And they were on broken plays when the quarterback just needed to get it away,” Gill said.

Christensen said he still marvels at Gill’s interception in a season-opening 14-2 win at Mater Dei that set the tone for the Colts’ season.

“He puts himself in good position and lets the game come to him,” Christensen said. “He doesn’t force anything. And he never is out of position, and that allows him to make so many more plays.”

Gill spent his first two seasons at Mayfair High in Lakewood, but transferred to Carson. He began fitting in with the Colts right away.

“At Mayfair, they thought I was too small,” Gill said, “So I came here. No one really knew about me until the interceptions.”

Then there are the kick returns.

Gill has two kick returns and a punt return for touchdowns this season, including a 97-yard kickoff return against Narbonne in Week 9 that followed a 99-yard kick return by Narbonne’s Sean Parker to open the game.

Gill was a major factor why Carson had a punt or kick return for a touchdown in five straight games. He knows most teams will not kick to the Colts if they have done their homework.

“Just little squib kicks now,” Gill said. “On our back two levels on returns, any one of us can take it back.”

Gill comes from a football family. His cousin, Ashton Simmons, played football at Glenn. Another cousin, Anthony Simmons, played at St. Paul. And his father, Dwan, and grandfather, Melvin, played football at Washington Prep.

Gill breaks into a big laugh when he talks about Carson’s 71-0 win over Washington this season in which he had a 45-yard punt return for a touchdown.

“It felt good to embarrass their school,” Gill said almost diabolically. “We’re a big sports family. All of us played football.”

Gill said Florida, UCLA, Oregon, UNLV and Montana State have shown interest, but that he has no scholarship offers on the table.

His size might be a factor there.

“I’m small. There’s not anything I can do about it,” Gill said. “I do what I do best and play the game.”